Derek Djernes

Derek Djernes is the owner of Axe Holes Kearney, an axe throwing venue and bar located in Kearney, Nebraska. He also runs a large B2B IT and cybersecurity company, dedicating roughly 70 hours a week between both businesses. He lives over an hour away from the venue, which pushed him early on to build strong operational systems and a dependable staff culture rather than relying on his own presence to keep things running.

Derek acquired the existing axe-throwing venue after searching for a side business for a couple of years. After seeing revenue drop by 50% in 2022 and decline again the following year, he made a decisive shift: he stopped working in the business and started working on it. He partnered with a marketing agency, launched targeted Facebook ad campaigns, built a website from scratch with a long-term SEO strategy, and executed aggressive B2B outreach to book corporate holiday parties and team-building events. He also added a Glow in the Dark Paint Splatter Room to create new buzz and attract a different demographic. The business is now on track to grow revenue by 50% in a single year.

Axe Holes Kearney features eight axe-throwing lanes with projection systems that allow guests to play 15 interactive games, a paint splatter room that accommodates up to 20 people, arcade games, and a bar serving domestic and craft beer. The venue can host up to 80 guests. Derek built the staff culture around a philosophy of “upbeat kindness,” ensuring every guest leaves with a positive experience regardless of their mood when they walked in.

A fun fact: Derek’s primary career is in B2B IT and cybersecurity, and he credits that background with giving him the confidence and skill set to execute the kind of systematic, data-driven marketing approach that turned his axe throwing venue around.